University of Oklahoma looks into building new water research center

NORMAN — University of Oklahoma officials received the go-ahead Thursday to explore options for a water research center.

The OU Board of Regents voted to authorize university officials to begin contract discussions with architecture firms for the construction of a new Water Innovative Research Center on the university's Research Campus.

OU President David Boren said the center would allow the university to bring together a variety of water-related research that's already being done on campus.

In that regard, he said, the building would be similar to OU's National Weather Center, which houses the university's weather-related research, and the Radar Innovations Lab, a $15 million facility that is being built near the south end of the Research Campus.

Once complete, that facility will house the university's radar-related research.

Nick Hathaway, OU's vice president of executive and administrative affairs, said university officials would be discussing the project with architects to determine how much the building might cost. At that point, officials would decide if the university could afford to proceed with the project.

A timeline for the project hasn't been determined, Hathaway said, but it could be up to a year before officials are able to break ground.